31 replies so far

new, grizzly 0690/1 or the 1023. both are ~ $1400 – $1500 shipped and i don’t think i’ve ever seen a knock on either machine. if looking used, a good unisaw shouldn’t be too hard to find in that price range.

-- there's a solution to every problem.......you just have to be willing to find it.

Within your price range, I don’t think you’re going to find much in a cabinet saw, with the exception of a hybrid. Best bet is craigslist for something used. Be aware that older saws may not have a riving knife, which has sort of become the new safety standard (much preferred even over the splitter/guard arrangement, which all saws have always had).

Hybrids, because they generally are meant to run at either 110 v. or 220 v, don’t have the horsepower of true cabinet saws, which always are 220 volts. Even though you can rewire the motor to run on 220, the motors still are limited to about 1.5 hp, though some claim 1.75 hp.. Also, true cabinet saws mount the arbor trunnions to the cabinet rather than the table, which is the preferred arrangement for maintaining accuracy (the cabinet, I mean). You can read reviews to see how various LJs have dealt with alignment issues on different saws.

Personally, I love used tools. But plenty of LJs won’t have anything but new. Your choice. If Knortscott chimes in here, he is regarded as the most knowledgeable on this forum. In fact, he has an extensive blog on tablesaws, and their strengths and weaknesses. I’d post the link to it, but I am too cyber challenged.

-- I admit to being an adrenaline junky; fortunately, I'm very easily frightened

Michael, are you in Canada? I’ve looked at the saw you linked in person at the CW store, and the thing I didn’t like about it was the split fence rails, which can come out of alignment over time. In my opinion, yes the Grizzly saws (G0690, G0691, G1023) are indeed better machines, albeit costing a bit more than the Laguna you linked. For a few hundred extra dollars, you’ll get a 3 hp motor and a very reliable, solid fence system. My two cents—good luck.

That Laguna is a hybrid saw, which are much lighter duty than an industrial cabinet saw. If you’ve got 220v, it’d seem silly to me to spend that much on a hybrid, when just a little more buys an industrial cabinet saw. The Grizzly cabinet saws are a great bang for the buck in that type of saw….Craftex from Busy Bee is similar (identical to the G0690?). King Industrial is another good choice if you’re in Canada.

Griz 1023 in one of it’s configurations. Don’t buy the hybrid when you can get a real 3hp cabinet saw within your budget. See if someone on the forum will send you the 10% Grizzly coupon that was in the April Woodworkers Journal. I would, but used mine for a new jointer :-) It will cover at least nearly all of the freight. If you have the budget, buy new with this saw and save the heartburn of buying a used piece of equipment that may have been someone else’s heartburn before.

for ~ $1200, i’d stretch the additional funds and get the griz. i am partial to the 0690/1 saws as they are constructed quite similarly to the original unisaw, which was produced, almost unchanged internally, for almost 70 years. the 1023 uses a single serpentine type drive belt and employs a different blade elevation configuration (dovetail ways, i think). either one, IMHO, is a better value than the linked laguna.

-- there's a solution to every problem.......you just have to be willing to find it.

I agree that the G0690 or G1023 would be the way to go if you buy new. Grizzly is having a sale that starts April 1 so it may be worth waiting. If you don’t mind buying used you can find a Unisaw, Powermatic, Grizzly, etc. in that price range. I just picked up a used 2006 model Grizzly G1023SL for $600 a few weeks ago. That would leave you some money for additional accessories or another machine.

I’d look for an old Unisaw, I see them all the time for $300-$600, I paid $400 for mine, it came with a Unifence and 4hp motor, an extension table and a free lathe! . Unisaws are pretty indestructible and if you ever need parts they’re readily available. I would stay away from any three phase models, unless you have three phase. Good luck!

i am in canada, is there somewhere i can look at the grizzlys in person? I’m in calgary alberta. ive been researching for months and every time i think i found the one, i find something else! haha damn. i really like the grizzly. which craftex model specifically is like the grizzly? and im really not a fan of used tools haha